THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FACULTY OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT GENESEOGENESEO, NEW YORK

Notice

In the event of any conflict between information in this web site and the archived copy of The Constitution of the Faculty of the State University of New York at Geneseo as maintained by the Presiding Officer of the Faculty, the information contained in the archived Constitution shall be deemed to be correct.

Section 1:The Faculty. The Faculty shall be the assembly of the teaching and administrative faculty.' It shall be empowered to ratify constitutional amendments, to decide matters brought to it by referendum, and to decide matters referred to the faculty-at-large by the President of the College or by the College Senate.

Section 2: Standing Committees of the Faculty. The Standing Committees of the Faculty shall consist of the committees enumerated in ARTICLE III of this Constitution, and the membership and powers of each shall be as described therein. The Standing Committees of the Faculty shall be responsible to the Faculty through the Executive Committee of the College Senate and through the College Senate.

Section 3: The College Senate. The College Senate shall be the representative governing body of the Faculty. It shall be empowered to recommend policy relating to matters dealing with the faculty affairs, student affairs, undergraduate academic affairs, graduate academic affairs, and any other matter of general faculty concern not coming within the purview of one of the Standing Committees of the faculty; to discuss and express its view on any matter deemed to be of general College or University interest; to make recommendations on any such matters to the President of the College, the College Council, the University Chancellor, the University Board of Trustees, the University Faculty Senate, or any other appropriate individual or body; and to organize itself with officers elected every year chosen from the teaching Faculty.

Section 4:Standing Committees of the College. The Standing Committees of the College shall consist of the committees enumerated in ARTICLE X of this Constitution, and the membership and powers of each shall be as described therein. The Standing Committees of the College shall make recommendations to either or both the President and the Faculty through the Executive Committee of the College Senate and through the College Senate.

' For purposes of this Constitution the phrase "Teaching Faculty" refers to full-time and term appointment part-time faculty holding academic or qualified academic rank whose primary responsibility lies within an academic department or division of the College. Also included for purposes of this Constitution as "Teaching Faculty" are those full-time and term appointment part-time librarians holding the rank of Librarian, Associate Librarian, Senior Assistant Librarian, or Assistant Librarian. Excluded from the teaching faculty are those Chairs and Deans who have twelve-month appointments and occupy administrative budget lines. The phrase "administrative faculty" refers to full time and term appointment part-time faculty, including Student Affairs, whose primary responsibilities do not lie within an academic department or division of the College. Part-time appointment status shall be determined by the provisions of the Policies of the Board of Trustees, Article XI, Title D2(a).

a. Membership: The membership of the Committee shall consist of six members of the teaching faculty, three of whom shall be elected each year on or before December 1 from a slate composed of nominations by the existing Committee on Nominations and Elections and from the floor. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be elected for two-year terms. The Committee shall elect its own Chair. Re-election of any member shall be possible.

b. Functions: The Committee shall prepare and submit a slate of two or more candidates for each elective office, elective Faculty or College Senate Committee position or other elective position, including every three years the office of University Faculty Senator, at a time and place designated by the Constitution of the Faculty.

The Committee shall designate members to prepare an online ballot and conduct the voting procedure for each office in a timely way.At least three of the members of the Committee shall have administrator rights to the on-line ballot to examine election results.

The Committee shall notify eligible voters when elections begin and send a reminder one week before the end of the voting period.

The Committee shall notify the Chair of the Senate of the results of the balloting so s/he can notify the nominees of the results and announce same to the College community.

The Chair of the Senate shall keep a record of the results of elections so that if any elected representative cannot fulfill the term of her/his office, the person receiving the next highest vote total in that election will be asked to serve the remainder of that term.

A secretary in the Office of the Provost will be responsible for maintaining the database of voters.

Section 2: Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards

A. Membership: The membership shall consist of eight or more members of the faculty. The members shall be appointed by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services in consultation with the Chair of the Senate. The Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services, a representative of the Vice President for Student and Campus Life, and a representative of the Director of Admissions shall serve as non-voting advisors

B. Functions: The Committee will hold Academic Standards Hearings at the end of each academic year. The Committee will be convened by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services, and may be divided into subgroups in order to conduct, in a timely way, hearings for students subject to academic dismissal. Temporary chairs for each hearing subgroup will be designated by the Dean in consultation with the Committee. With respect to the hearings, the Committee shall reach one of two decisions which shall be implemented by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services: 1) uphold student dismissal; 2) permit student reinstatement provided he/she meets certain conditions stipulated by college policy or imposed by the Committee.

Section 3: Committee on Faculty Personnel

a. Membership:

1. Seven members, elected at large. The term of office for members of the Committee on Faculty Personnel shall be two years and shall expire on December 31. Members will be eligible for re-election.

2. Each member must have continuing appointment and hold the rank of Professor or Associate Professor on the teaching Faculty or Librarian or Associate Librarian.

3. No committee member may be a Department Chair.

4. The Committee Chair shall be elected by the Committee members.

5. A majority of the Committee members must hold the rank of Full Professor or Librarian.

6. No two members of the Committee may come from the same department.

7. The Committee on Nominations and Elections shall ensure that the mandatory number of Full Professors actually have been elected to membership.

b. Selection of Committee Members:

1. In the Spring prior to an election, the Committee on Nominations and Elections shall determine and announce in the College Senate Bulletin, (1) the number of Faculty Personnel Committee members to be elected and (2) the mandatory number of Full Professors to be elected in a given year. In the Spring prior to an election, the Committee on Nominations and Elections shall create a list from records housed in the Provost's Office of those Associate and Full Professors who are eligible for election (i.e., omitting Department Chairs and individuals from Departments with continuing Faculty Personnel Committee members). Prior to the end of the spring semester, the Committee shall send a letter to all eligible individuals asking them to indicate a willingness or unwillingness to serve. Those not wishing to serve will be responsible for asking to have their names removed.

2. During the first week of the fall semester, the Chair of the Committee on Nominations and Elections shall present a list of responses from the Spring letter to the Committee. Members of the Committee shall immediately call all eligible individuals who failed to respond to the spring letter of inquiry to ascertain their willingness to accept nomination to the Faculty Personnel Committee.

3. By the middle of the second week of Fall semester, the Committee on Nominations and Elections shall construct a list of eligible persons willing to serve and shall distribute that list to all faculty and librarians for final revision. By the third Monday in September, the final list shall be forwarded to all Department Chairs with a charge to departments that they nominate no more than four persons from the list, and no more than one from their respective Departments. Two Fridays prior to the October All-College meeting will serve as the deadline for Departments to return their nominees to the Chair of the Committee. The Committee shall call all Department Chairs who fail to submit nominations by the deadline.

4. The Committee on Nominations and Elections shall compile the nominations from Departments and create the slate of nominees for presentation to the Chair of Senate by the Wednesday prior to the October All-College meeting, for inclusion in the Senate Bulletin. The slate shall include at least triple the number of positions to be filled. (Additional nominees will be included in the case of tie votes emerging from Department nominations). The slate shall include at least double the mandatory number of Full Professors to be elected.

c. Functions and Responsibilities

1. The committee shall act on:

(a) All cases when a Department Chair and/or Committee have recommended a member of the teaching Faculty for promotion and/or continuing appointment.

(b) Any case in which an individual Faculty member (in his/her own case), a Department Chair, or a Department Committee asks in writing for the Committee’s review and recommendation regarding promotion, continuing appointment or renewal of term appointment.

2. In all cases under review, the Committee will require access to materials submitted in support of a recommendation for promotion, continuing appointment, or renewal of term appointment. The materials shall include a personal data sheet prepared by the candidate in support of his/her case. The Committee shall consider only materials that will become a permanent part of the evaluation file. Material in support of promotion, continuing appointment, and renewal of appointment should be submitted to the Committee within two weeks after recommendations from the established channels are received in the Office of Provost.

3. The committee shall meet with the Provost before submitting its recommendation to the President.

4. The Committee shall submit to the President a simple negative or positive recommendation for each candidate. A copy of these recommendations shall be sent by the Committee to the Provost and shall become a part of the candidate’s file of evaluative material that is reviewed by the President Copies of the Committee’s recommendations shall, also, be sent to the Department Chair, the Chair of the Department personnel Committees, and the candidates.

5. The Committee shall meet with the President to discuss its recommendations.

6. The Committee shall publish in the Senate Bulletin an annual report detailing the number of candidates considered for promotion and/or continuing appointment and the names of the candidates that the Committee recommended for each.

Section 4: The Committee on Professional Leave Review

a. Membership:

1. The Professional Leave Review Committee will consist of one academic representative from each of the six following areas: Natural Science (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy), Social Science (Anthropology, Communication, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology), Humanities (English, Foreign languages, History, Philosophy), Fine Arts (Art, School of Performing Arts), Education/Communicative Disorders and Sciences, and Professional Studies (School of Business, College Libraries).

2. Any full-time member of the teaching Faculty with continuing appointment is eligible for election to the Professional Leave Review Committee. At least half of the Committee members must have had professional leave approved in the past.

3. Each member of the Professional Leave Review Committee shall be elected to a three year term. Terms of office shall end on May 31. No member shall be elected to more than two consecutive terms. One third of the Committee membership will be eligible for election yearly, with election from the areas of Natural Science and Humanities occurring in 2004 and every third year thereafter, election from the areas of Social Science and Fine Arts occurring in 2006 and every third year thereafter, and elections for the remaining areas occurring in 2005 and every third year thereafter.

4. No member with a conflict of interest (for example, whose application for a leave is to come before the committee) is permitted to serve on the Professional Leave Review Committee. Members having a conflict of interest will identify themselves to the Executive Committee, which will replace the member with the other candidate from his/her area from the year of the member’s election, or if that person is unable to serve, with another full-time member of the teaching faculty from that area. The replacement will be for the year of the conflict of interest only.

5. The Vice-Chair of the Professional Leave Review Committee, who shall chair the committee in the following year, shall be elected annually from within the committee by the six committee members. In the event that the Vice-Chair cannot serve as Chair, the committee shall elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its membership. The Chair and Vice-Chair must have previously served on the Committee for at least one year.

b. Selection of Committee Members:

1. The members of the Committee will be elected during the spring semester of each year.

2. Each spring, the Committee on Nominations and Elections will identify individuals who are willing and eligible to be elected from within each area needing a new representative. This list will be provided to the departments by the end of January, including an indication of which of them are previous leave individuals.

3. Each department within the eligible areas shall nominate two individuals from within the department's area, only one of whom may be from within the department itself, and at least one of whom must be a previous leave individual. These nominations will be returned to the Committee by the end of February.

4. The Committee on Nominations and Elections shall accept these nominations and select the two candidates from each area who receive the most nominations. However, if at least one previous leave individual must be elected in that year, then the Committee will select as candidates from each area the previous leave individual who receives the most nominations and the person from all other eligible individuals who receives the most nominations.

5. These names will be placed on the ballot. The faculty shall vote for one of the two candidates in each of the areas. The minimum number of previous leave individuals required will be chosen to serve on the Committee according to which such candidates receive the most votes, with no two of them being in the same area. To fill the remaining open seats, the candidate in each unrepresented area receiving the most votes will serve on the Committee.

c. Procedures:

1. By the end of the Spring semester, the Committee will publish, in the College Senate Bulletin and other appropriate campus publications, a request for leave applications, including a list of materials to be submitted, a list of criteria to be used in evaluating applications, and the deadline date for the submission of applications to the Office of the Provost.

2. The applicant shall submit applications in accord with the Policies of the Board of Trustees and the College Handbook. The proposal will be forwarded to the Office of the Provost, who will submit the materials to the Professional Leave Review Committee. The Committee will complete its own review and forward its written comments with the proposal package to the Provost for action and transmittal to the President.

3. The Committee shall publish in the Senate Bulletin an annual report detailing the number of candidates considered for professional leave and a summary of the Committee's recommendations.

Section 1: The College Senate shall be composed of 85 to 100 members as described below. When the membership drops below 85 or rises to above 100, the Executive Committee or an ad hoc committee appointed by the Executive Committee shall recommend a revision of the formula for determining membership in Section 7, Part b. This revision must be approved by the College Senate.

Section 2: The duly elected representative of the Faculty to the University Faculty Senate shall be a Senator by reason of office.

Section 3: The officers of the Faculty shall be members of the College Senate by reason of office.

Section 4: The President of the College, the Provost, all Vice Presidents, and the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services shall be members of the College Senate by reason of their offices.The President and Provost shall be non-voting members.

Section 5: The administrative Faculty shall be represented in the College Senate by eight senators, two of whom shall be elected by Academic Affairs administrative faculty (one elected each year), two by Administration and Finance administrative faculty (one elected each year), two by Student Services administrative faculty (one elected each year), one by the College Advancement administrative faculty (elected every other year) and one elected at-Large (elected every other year) Administrative Senators will be elected to two year terms.

Section 6: Seventeen representatives of the student body shall be members of the College Senate and shall enjoy full parliamentary rights within the College Senate. Three of the student representatives shall be graduate students and shall be appointed by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services. Fourteen shall be undergraduate students and shall be selected in a manner established by the Executive Committee of the Student Association.

Section 7: The teaching Faculty of the College shall be represented on the following basis:

a. Eighteen Faculty Senators shall be elected at-large. Each year these at-large seats shall be apportioned into two groups by the Committee on Nominations and Elections using the following procedure: Divide the number of teaching Faculty with more than six years of professional employment by the total number of teaching Faculty. Multiply this result by eighteen and round to the nearest integer. This shall be the number of seats allotted to group A. The remainder of the eighteen seats shall be allotted to group B. Any vacant seats in group A shall be filled from candidates having more than six years of professional employment by the start of the term of office. Any vacant seats in Group B shall be filled from candidates having one to six years of professional employment by the start of the term of office. Elections will be held by secret ballot, annually, and prior to the end of the Spring Term. Seats in each group will be filled for two-year terms by the candidates in that group receiving the highest number of votes cast by the Faculty. Each Senator shall be eligible for re-election.

b. Each College Department shall be represented in the College Senate according to the following formula:

Departments with one to ten voting members shall be entitled to one Senator, Departments with eleven to twenty voting members shall be entitled to two Senators, Departments with twenty-one or more voting members shall be entitled to three Senators. Each Departmental Senator shall have a two-year term and shall be elected by his/her department prior to the end of the Spring Term.

Section 8: Each Senator (including student representatives) shall normally have one, but not more than one College Senate Standing Committee assignment. Persons who are members of the College Senate by reason of their office will not be assigned to a Standing Committee.

Section 1: The elected officers of the Faculty shall be the Presiding Officer of the Faculty, the Vice Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the university Faculty Senator, and the Immediate Past Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer of the Faculty shall serve as the Chair of the College Senate. The Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall also serve in these capacities for the College Senate.

Section 2:The Presiding Officer of the Faculty shall be elected as specified in Section 6 to serve a one year term. The term of office shall expire on May 31. Any vacancy in the office shall be temporarily filled by the Vice Chair for up to 30 days. The Executive Committee shall meet within the 30 days and may fill the position of Presiding Officer either by the appointment of a new Presiding Officer or through an election consistent with Section 6. In the case of an election, the Vice Chair will continue to serve until the new Presiding Officer is elected. Re-election to this office is permissible.

Section 3: The Vice Chair shall be elected as specified in Section 6 to serve a one-year term. The term of the office of Vice Chair shall expire on May 31. Any vacancy in the office of Vice Chair shall be filled by appointment by the Chair with the consent of the Executive Committee. Re-election to the office of Vice Chair is permissible.

Section 4: The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected as specified in Section 6 to serve one-year terms. These terms shall expire on May 31. Any vacancy in either of these offices shall be filled by appointment by the Chair with the consent of the Executive Committee. Re-election to the office of Secretary or Treasurer is permissible.

Section 5: The University Faculty Senator, elected in the Fall semester of the last year of the incumbent's term, shall be considered an officer of the Faculty and representative officer to the College Senate. The Alternate University Faculty Senator shall be the person receiving the second highest number of votes. The term of office for the University Faculty Senator and the Alternate shall be three years and shall expire on May 31 with re-election possible in accordance with University Faculty Senate Bylaws. The Alternate University Faculty Senator shall act in the absence of the University Faculty Senator only on matters described in ARTICLE VI, Section 5 of this Constitution. Any vacancy in the office of University Faculty Senator shall be filled immediately by the Alternate. Any vacancy in the office of Alternate shall be filled by election as in Section 4.

Section 6: Election to the offices as specified in Sections 1, 2, 3, shall be by secret ballot by the highest number of votes cast by the Faculty from a slate prepared by the Committee on Nominations and Elections. Elections shall be held not later than April 15 for vacancies occurring through expiration of term of office. Elections to fill vacancies occurring at other times shall be held within the first two weeks that the College is in session following the occurrence of the vacancy or as prescribed in Section 3.

Section 1: The Chair. The Chair of the College Senate shall preside at all meetings of the College Senate, all meetings of the Executive Committee, and all general Faculty meetings not called by the President of the College. S/He shall prepare and circulate agenda for meetings. S/He shall circulate agenda of College Senate meetings to the Faculty prior to all meetings of the College Senate. S/He shall represent the Faculty at appropriate College functions. S/He shall appoint, with the advice of the officers, Chairs of the Standing Committees from among the Teaching Faculty members of the Senate. S/He shall represent the College at meetings of the SUNY Campus Governance Leaders or other appropriate SUNY-wide meetings. S/He shall be responsible for the publication of the proceedings of the Standing Committees of the Faculty and of the College Senate and its Standing Committees. S/He shall assume responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of a full and permanent record of all policies established by the College Senate. S/He shall report all actions of the Senate to the President and receive a response from the President.

Section 2: The Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall, in the absence of the Chair, preside at meetings of the College Senate, the Executive Committee, and the Faculty, and represent the Faculty at appropriate College functions. S/He shall organize a Committee on Excellence Awards and Distinguished Ranks, see that the Committee completes its tasks in a timely manner and report the results of the process to the President. S/He shall assume responsibility for other duties delegated by the Chair. Re-election is permissible.

Section 3: The Secretary. The Secretary shall review the minutes of the Executive Committee of the College Senate, of the College Senate, and of those general Faculty meetings at which the Chair presides. The Secretary shall prepare such correespondence for the Senate as directed by the Chair. The Secretary shall perform other duties as directed by the Chair.

Section 4: The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be accountable for the receipt and distribution of all the funds of the Faculty and shall submit an annual written report to the membership of the College Senate showing all receipts and expenditures of the academic year, June 1 to May 3 1. The current Treasurer shall present to the Faculty a summary of receipts and expenditures in writing prior to the submission of the following year's budget, and such report shall date from last accounting of funds to the Faculty. A voucher system shall be used with the Chair or Vice Chair signing vouchers for expenditures over $500. Expenditures of over $500 shall also require a majority vote of the Senators present at a College Senate meeting.

Section 5: The University Faculty Senator. The University Faculty Senator or Alternate shall represent the Faculty at all meetings of the University Faculty Senate and shall serve as the spokesperson for the view of the local Faculty in all University Faculty Senate meetings. The University Faculty Senator or Alternate shall keep the Faculty informed as to all business of the University Faculty Senate and shall report regularly on proposed items or resolutions before the University Faculty Senate.

Section 6: Immediate Past Chair The Immediate Past Chair shall serve as advisor to the Chair of Senate. The Immediate Past Chair shall serve a one-year term to end on May 31 of the year following the completion of her/his term as Chair. The Immediate past Chair serves as a member of the Strategic Planning Group. If there is no Immediate Past Chair, the Chair may appoint a member of Senate to serve in any capacity that would have been held by the Immediate Past Chair.

Section 7: The Officers of the College Senate shall not serve as Chair or member of the Standing Committees of the College Senate.

Section 1: The Executive Committee shall receive all reports of all College Senate Committees and must include such reports on the agenda of business to come before the College Senate.

Section 2: The Executive Committee shall apportion the business of the College Senate to the appropriate Standing Committees of the College Senate.

Section 3: The Executive Committee shall appoint ad hoc committees composed of both faculty and students as the need may arise for consideration of matters not appropriate to the Standing Committees of the College Senate.

Section 4: The Executive Committee, on the recommendation of the Treasurer, shall submit to the College Senate a budget estimate for general faculty functions and shall recommend voluntary remittances for the ensuing year, June 1 to May 31.

Section 5: The Executive Committee, when a special meeting is consistent with the purposes of the College Senate, shall call special meetings of the College Senate pursuant to a majority vote of the Executive Committee, or a petition of 10% of the College Senate or 10% of the total Faculty.

Section 6: The Executive Committee, through its members who are Chairs of Standing Committees of the College Senate, shall receive reports of College Senate Committee activities and conduct a continuing review of Committee work.

Section 7: The Executive Committee, through the Chair of the College Senate, shall receive reports of the activities of the Standing Committees of the Faculty and shall conduct a continuing review of the work of the Faculty Committees.

Section 8: The Executive Committee shall advise the College Senate Chair on nominees to fill vacancies in the roster of at-large teaching Faculty Senators, elected members of the Standing Committees of the Faculty, Secretary, and Treasurer, and appointed members of the Standing Committees of the Faculty. Nominations to fill such vacancies shall be submitted to the College Senate for its approval. The appointees shall serve the remainder of the specific terms of office.

Section 9: The Executive Committee, by a majority vote of its members, shall have the authority to hold a referendum on any matter of concern to the College Senate or general Faculty. The referendum shall be an expression of Faculty opinion and shall not bind the College Senate or the Faculty to the expressed opinion.

Section 10: The Executive Committee shall be consulted by the President of the College or other appropriate administrative officer on all administrative appointments above the level of Assistant Dean. This consultation shall occur prior to the appointment of an individual to fill the position.

The membership of the Committee shall include at least two administrative Faculty Senators appointed by the President of the College and at least 20% of the teaching Faculty Senators appointed by the College Senate Chair, in consultation with the officers of the Faculty. Three of the undergraduate student Senators shall be appointed by the President of the Student Association to serve as voting members of the Committee. The Chair shall be named by the College Senate Chair from among the teaching Faculty members of the Committee. The term of office for the Chair and Committee members shall be one year. Re-appointment of the Chair and members of the Committee shall be possible.

b. Functions:

The functions of the Committee shall be to transmit to the Executive Committee of the College Senate its recommendations relating to undergraduate courses, majors/minors, and core courses. The Chair shall meet as needed with the Chair of Undergraduate Policies, Core and Review Committee and/or the Chair of the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee to coordinate committee recommendation. At the request of any of the Chairs a joint meeting of the committees shall be convened and chaired by the Chair of the committee requesting the joint meeting. Recommendation approved at the joining meeting of the two committees shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

The membership of the Committee shall include at least two administrative Faculty Senators appointed by the President of the College and at least 20%of the teaching Faculty Senators appointed by the College Senate Chair, in consultation with the officers of the Faculty. Three of the undergraduate student Senators shall be appointed by the President of the Student Association to serve as voting members of the Committee. The chair shall be named by the College Senate Chair from among the teaching Faculty members of the Committee. The term of office for the Committee Chair and Committee members shall be one year. Re-appointment of the Committee Chair and Committee members shall be possible.

b. Functions: The functions of the Committee shall be to transmit to the Executive Committee of the College Senate its recommendations relating to the undergraduate academic policies, standards, core policies, and program reviews. The Chair shall meet as needed with the Chair of the Undergraduate Curricula Committee and/or the Chair of the Graduate Academic Affairs Committee to coordinate committee recommendation. At the request of any of the Chairs, a joint meeting of the committees shall be convened and chaired by the Chair of the Committee requesting the joint meeting. Recommendation approved at the joint meeting of the committees shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

Section3: Committee on Graduate Academic Affairs

a. Membership:

The membership of the Committee shall include at least one administrative Faculty Senator appointed by the President of the College and a least 10% of the teaching Faculty Senators appointed by the College Senate Chair, in consultation with the officers of the College Senate. Two graduate student Senators shall be appointed by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services. The Committee Chair shall be named by the College Senate Chair from among the teaching Faculty members of the Committee. The term of office of the Committee Chair and Committee members shall be one year. Re-appointment of the Committee chair and Committee members shall be possible.

b. Functions:

The functions of the Committee shall be to transmit to the Executive Committee of the College Senate its recommendations relating to graduate curricula, academic policies and standards. The Chair shall meet as needed with the Chair of the Undergraduate Curricula Committee and/or the Chair of the Undergraduate Policies, Core and Review Committee to coordinate committee recommendations. At the request of any of the Chairs, a joint meeting of the committees shall be convened and chaired by the Chair of the committee requesting the joint meeting. Recommendations approved at the joint meeting of the committees shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

Section 4: Committee on Student Affairs

a. Membership:

The membership of the Committee shall include at least two administrative Faculty Senators appointed by the President of the College and at least 15% of the teaching Faculty Senators appointed by the College Senate Chair, in consultation with the officers of the Faculty. Six undergraduate student Senators shall be appointed by the President of the Student Association to serve as voting members of the Committee, and the one graduate student Senator shall be appointed by the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services to serve as a voting member of the Committee. The Chair shall be named by the College Senate Chair from among the teaching Faculty members of the Committee. The term of office for the Chair and Committee members shall be one year. Reappointment of the Chair and members of the Committee shall be possible.

b. Functions:

To consult with students on problems relating to faculty-student relationships, viewed broadly as problems of concern to the Campus Community, to work with other student committees on matters which affect faculty and students and which overlap the boundaries between the specific responsibilities of the Student Affairs and other Committees, and to recommend to the Executive Committee of Senate such policies as it may consider advisable. The Chair shall meet with the Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee to consider recommendations affecting both Faculty Affairs and Student Affairs, to assist in the resolution of any type of student complaint and, in particular, to serve as a source of information, consultation, mediation for students such that, in many cases, formal grievance procedures need not be initiated. At the request of either Chair, a joint meeting of the two Committees shall be convened and chaired by the Chair of the Committee requesting the joint meeting. Recommendations approved at the joint meeting of the two Committees shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

Section 5: Committee on Faculty Affairs

a. Membership:

The membership of the Committee shall include at least one administrative Faculty Senator appointed by the President of the College and at least 20% of the teaching Faculty Senators appointed by the College Senate Chair, in consultation with the officers of the Faculty. Two of the undergraduate student Senators shall be appointed by the President of the Student Association to serve as voting members of the Committee. The Chair shall be named by the College Senate Chair from among the teaching Faculty members of the Committee. The term of office for the Chair and Committee members shall be one year. Re-appointment of the Chair and members of the Committee shall be possible.

b. Functions:

To recommend to the Executive Committee of the College Senate general policy relating to the professional affairs of the faculty and general policy on criteria for promotion and tenure of teaching Faculty. The Chair shall meet with the Chair of the Student Affairs Committee to consider recommendations affecting both Student Affairs and Faculty Affairs. At the request of either Chair, a joint meeting of the two Committees shall be convened and chaired by the Chair of the Committee requesting the joint meeting. Recommendations approved at the joint meeting of the two Committees shall be referred to the Executive Committee.

The functions of the Research Council are to encourage and promote researchand scholarly activities on the campus. It shall improve present means and initiate new means to help faculty and staff members to obtain external funding. The Research Council will accomplish these functions by helping to set research direction for the campus, initiating programs that will aid researchers and scholars, and reviewing applications for internal grants that will further advance research on campus and the procurement of external funding. The Research Council will review applications for faculty and student summer fellowships, student research assistantships, the Hurrell/McNaron award and review the status of research and scholarly activities on the campus.

b.Membership:

1. There will be at least twelve and no more than one member from the teaching Faculty of each academic department.

2.All members must be or have been an externally funded Project Director and/or Principal Investigator, or currently performing scholarly creative activities or research, as evidenced by publication and presentations at professional meetings, exhibits, or performances.

3. The membership term for teaching Faculty is three years, and shall expire on May 31st. Consecutive terms are allowed.

4. In the event that a seat becomes vacant, the Chair of the Research Council and the Director of Sponsored Research shall confer with the Chair of the appropriate academic department to identify a potential member. Each department may establish its own method for choosing their departmental representative on the Research Council.

5. Each academic year, prior to June 1st, the Research Council will provide to the President of the College a list of nominees for appointment to the Research Council to fill vacant seats. Mid-term vacancies will be handled as needed.

6.The Director of Sponsored Research is an ex-officio non-voting member.

7.A representative of the Teaching and Learning Center is designated by the President as an ex-officio non-voting member.

8.One or more representatives designated by the Vice President of Administration and Finance will serve as ex-officio non-voting member(s).

9. In May of odd years, the Research Council shall elect a Vice Chair from the teaching Faculty members of the Council. The term of office shall be two years from June 1st until May 31st, followed by a two year term as Chair.

c.Subcommittees and ad hoc Working Groups:

1.Each member of the Research Council will serve on at least one subcommittee or ad hoc working group.

2.Membership: The Research Council Chair will appoint faculty members of the Council to each subcommittee or working group and designate subcommittee and working group chairs. The Director of Sponsored Research is an ex-officio non-voting member on all subcommittees and working groups.

3.Subcommittees or working groups may be created or dissolved at the discretion of the Research Council.

d.Procedures and Protocol

1.Role of the Chair: direct activities of the Research Council, to include, but not be limited to: overseeing nomination of members, appointment of members to sub-committees or working groups, calling and chairing meetings, advising the Provost, serving as a liaison to the Director of Sponsored Research, and upholding the Constitution.

2.Role of the Vice-Chair: fulfill the role of the Chair in the case of his/her absence and assist in the timely publication of the minutes.

3.Minutes will be published in the Senate Bulletin.

4.Research Council members applying for internal grants, summer fellowships, or sponsoring students applying for undergraduate research programs will be excused from discussions and evaluations involving their own interests.Research Council members in the same department as another faculty member or student under consideration will be excused from discussions and evaluations at the discretion of the Chair.

5.The Research Council is an advisory body to the President of the College that reports their recommendations through the Office of the Provost as facilitated by the Director of Sponsored Research.All decisions will be held in confidence until officially approved and acted upon by the President, the Provost, or the Director of Sponsored Research. The Director of Sponsored Research will ensure that all applicants are informed of the official decisions concerning their funding requests, and will also be responsible for notifying faculty and staff of changes to any research policy.

Section 2: General Education Committee

a. Membership:

1. A member from the Provost's Office who will also Chair the General Education Committee

2. The Chairs of the nine General Education Area committees: Natural Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, Humanities, Critical Writing and Reading, Numeric and Symbolic Reasoning, Non-Western Traditions, U.S. History, and Foreign Language.

3. Five elected members of the teaching faculty who will serve staggered two-year terms.

4. One member from the Student Affairs Professional Staff who is appointed by the President for a two-year term.

5. One student member from the Academic Affairs Committee of the Student Association who will serve a one-year term.

6. One student member (sophomore or junior) appointed by the Provost from a list of nominees submitted by the faculty and staff. Appointment term is two years.

b. Election of Five Teaching Faculty Members:

1. There will be five elected teaching faculty: One member from Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences with Mathematics and Computer Science, Professional Programs, and Social Sciences. The term of office will be two years. In the spring of even years, starting in 1992, representatives from Natural Science with Mathematics and Computer Science and Professional Programs will be elected. In the Spring of odd years, starting in 1993, representatives from Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Science will be elected. The slate of nominees for these elections will be prepared by members of the academic groupings in the manner of their choice.

c. Functions: The functions of the General Education Committee shall be (1) to oversee the General Education Curriculum, (2) to continuously assess the effectiveness of that curriculum, and (3) to consider innovations that might further strengthen the congruence of that curriculum with best practices in higher education and the mission and goals of the College. In its oversight role, the Committee shall communicate its concerns directly to the General Education Area Committees and to the Dean of Curriculum and Academic Services. In its assessment role, the Committee shall work in conjunction with the Assessment Planning Committee. In its development role, the Committee shall forward recommendations both to appropriate committees of the Senate and to the Provost and President.

Section 3: Strategic Planning Group

a. Membership: All members listed below except for resource staff are voting members. Meetings will be chaired by the Provost.

1. The Provost will be a permanent member

2. The current Chair of the College Senate

3. The immediate past Chair of the College Senate

4. Four teaching Faculty

5. Two Students

6. One member of the professional staff

7. The Vice Presidents for Administration and Finance, Student and Campus Life, and College Advancement

8. Three resource staff

9. The Executive Committee of the College Senate will act as a monitoring and recommending body to the Strategic Planning Advisory Group.

1. The Executive Committee of the College Senate will initially recommend nine faculty, from which the President will select three faculty representatives. As each member rotates out of the group, the Executive committee will supply three recommendations for each faculty vacancy.

(a.) To prevent all three initially appointed from rotating out of the group at once, one will be appointed for one year, one for two years and the third will be appointed for three years. Faculty may be reappointed for consecutive terms but may serve no more than six uninterrupted years.

(b.) Other than the initial one - and two - year terms, faculty terms will be for three years.

2. One of the two student members will be the President of the Student Association or his/her designee. The second student representative will be a sophomore or junior chosen by the President from a list of three students recommended by the President of the Student Association. This student representative will serve a two-year term, renewable for one additional year.

3. The president will appoint one professional staff member.

4. The resource staff will be named by the president

c. Functions: The Strategic Planning Group (SPG) will define overarching goals for the College, evaluate priorities and, where appropriate, recommend new or revised goals and strategies that will strengthen the mission of the College. SPG will review the goals of the College and its constituent units to ensure that they are in keeping with the Vision and Mission Statements and will regularly review the College's progress towards these goals. The Strategic Planning Group will make all of its recommendations directly to the President.

Section 4: College Assessment Advisory Council

a. Membership:

1. The following will be members by reason of office:

·The Associate Provost responsible for Assessment who will Chair the Council

·The Director of Budgets

·The Director of Institutional Research

·The Chair of the College Senate or designee

·The Chair of Academic Affairs Program Assessment

·The Chair of Administration & Finance Assessment or representative named by the Vice President

·The Chair of Student and Campus Life Assessment or representative named by the Vice President

2. The Council shall have the following additional members:

·One member of the Teaching Faculty elected to a 3-year term

·One Student Representative appointed by the President to a 2 year term

b. Functions:

1. The Council shall facilitate College-wide assessment seeing that each division of the College shall have an assessment process that will provide:

1.A review of assessment results from the units within the division

2.Constructive feedback to the units on their assessment plans

3.An annual report to the College Assessment Advisory Council that addresses College planning objectives as manifested within each division

2. The Council shall

1. Review annual reports from divisional assessment processes provided by the Vice Presidents to the Council

5.Encourage the campus-wide use of evidence in programmatic decision-making

6.Organize assessment training and professional development across the campus.

3.The Chair of the CAAC will be a non-voting member of the Strategic Planning Group and will operate as a liaison between the College Assessment Advisory Council and the Strategic Planning Group.

Section 5: Budget Priorities Committee

The Budget Priorities Committee (BPC) advises the President on budget priorities and works with the Strategic Planning Group to link resources with college planning goals.

a.a. Membership: The Budget Priorities Committee shall be co-chaired by the Past Chair of the College Senate and Vice President for Administration and Finance. Its membership shall also be comprised of the following:

oPresiding Officer of the Faculty/Chair, College Senate

oProvost/Vice President for Academic Affairs

oVice President for Student and Campus Life

oVice President for Advancement

oPresident of the Student Government Association or his/her designee

oA member of the professional staff – appointed

oTwo members of the faculty – appointed

The Director of Budget will serve as resource staff to the Budget Priorities Committee.

b.Process for appointment: The President shall appoint a member of the professional staff to serve a two-year term. The President, in consultation with the Executive Committee of the College Senate, shall appoint two members of the faculty for two-year terms.

c.b. Functions: The Budget Priorities Committee will play a key role in certain matters as they pertain to the College’s Budget, and may on occasion be asked to serve in a consultative role with the President.

1.The BPC will review responses to Budget Call Letters and prepare a prioritized listing of requests for the President’s review. This listing shall be prepared in a manner that is consistent with and in support of the College’s strategic planning goals and budget priorities as established by the Strategic Planning Group (SPG).

2.On an annual basis, the BPC will conduct general reviews of the College’s budget and report on the same to the College Senate.

3.From time to time, the BPC may be called upon by the President and/or SPG to undertake special studies and analyses consistent with its role as an advisory committee on budget related matters. Such studies or analyses should be done in the context of the College’s overall goals and priorities, and may have tight timelines for completion.

4.The President may also choose to convene the BPC to consult with him/her on specific budgetary matters requiring a more immediate response.

Section 1: Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be scheduled by the Chair of the College Senate during the academic year from September through May.

Section 2: The Chair of the College Senate shall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, schedule at least four College Senate meetings per semester, with the meetings evenly distributed throughout the semester.

Section 3: Special meetings of the College Senate or of the Faculty, when such a meeting is consistent with the purposes of the Faculty or of the Senate or is petitioned by 10% of the Senate or of the total Faculty, shall be called by the Chair of the College Senate with the majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 4: Meetings of the Faculty may be called by the President of the College at his/her discretion.

Section 5: Meetings of the Executive Committee, Faculty, College Senate, College Senate Committees, and Faculty Committees shall be open to the Faculty, administration, support staff, and students unless declared executive sessions by majority vote of the respective bodies.

Section 6: Electronic Meetings: Committees of the Senate may conduct meetings and distribute materials to be considered by electronic means. Members of a committee may similarly participate in meetings they are unable to attend in person. Committees may conduct discussions of and with the consent of two-thirds of their members vote on motions by electronic means.

Section 1: Proposals for additions or changes in the By-Laws of the Constitution of the Faculty shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the College Senate and must be supported by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or by petition of 10% of the total Faculty. After receiving such proposals, the Chair of the College Senate shall promptly present them to the Faculty for its consideration and vote.

Section 2: Revisions and additions to the By-Laws of the Constitution of the Faculty shall be enacted by a majority vote of the members of the total voting Faculty who shall have voted, subject to quorum requirements in ARTICLE II, Section 3 of the By-Laws of the Constitution of the Faculty. Voting shall occur no sooner than one month following the original presentation of the proposals to the Faculty by the Chair of the College Senate. Upon enactment, proposals shall be incorporated in the By-Laws of the Faculty Constitution and become immediately effective.

Section 3: A referendum on the interpretation of any provision of the Constitution of the Faculty and/or By-Laws may be called for by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or by a joint petition from 10% of the members of the Faculty and 5% of the Students. A referendum calling for reversal of a Senate decision may be called for by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or by a joint petition from 10% of the Faculty and 5% of the Students, provided that the petition is presented within three weeks of the original Senate decision. Petition signatures will be validated by the Vice-Chair of the Senate within seven days from the date the petition is received by the Executive Committee. All faculty and all students are eligible to vote in any referendum. A vote on any referendum may be taken no sooner than three weeks following the original presentation to the total Faculty and Students. The method of administration of the vote on the referendum will be decided upon and carried out jointly by the College Senate Chair and the President of the Student Association. A referendum is passed when it is approved by a majority vote weighted according to the current distribution of faculty senators and student senators' and subject to quorum requirements imposed by Article II, Section 3 of the By-Laws of the Constitution of the Faculty.

' The total number of votes in a referendum shall be equal to the number of members in the College Senate and shall be apportioned between students and faculty in the same ratio as faculty senators and student senators. The votes apportioned to the faculty shall be counted on the ratio of yes votes of the faculty to total faculty who shall have voted. The votes apportioned to the students shall be counted on the ratio of yes votes of the students to the total number of students who shall have voted. For example, if the Senate membership consists of 17 Student Senators and 70 Faculty Senators, the total number of votes in a referendum is 87, with 17 votes apportioned to Students and 70 votes apportioned to Faculty. Further assume that in a given referendum 1200 students voted (700 voting yes and 500 voting no) and 120 faculty voted (80 voting yes and 40 voting no). The votes will be counted:

Section 1: Proposals for amendment of the Constitution of the Faculty may be made at any time by an ad hoc or other committee appointed by the Executive Committee for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution. Such proposed amendments need only be accepted by the Executive Committee before being presented to the Faculty at an announced open hearing. The Secretary's report of this hearing shall be distributed to the Faculty prior to voting. They shall be voted on by the Faculty no sooner than one month after the original presentation.

Section 2: Proposals for amendment may be submitted in writing to the Chair of the College Senate by any member of the Faculty, provided the proposal is supported by petitions of 10% of the Faculty. The Chair of the College Senate shall submit proposals to the vote of the Faculty at a time and place determined by him/her, with the advice of the Executive Committee and consent of the College Senate, but no sooner than one month after the original presentation of proposals to the Faculty at an announced open hearing. The Secretary's report of this hearing shall be distributed to the Faculty prior to voting.

Section 3: After the presentation of the proposals for amendment, they may be revised by the Executive Committee, with the advice and approval of the proposers of the amendments. Any revisions must be noted in the College Senate Bulletin at least two weeks before being submitted to the vote of the Faculty. Enactment of amendments to the Constitution shall require a majority vote of the members of the Faculty who shall have voted, subject to quorum requirements imposed by ARTICLE II, Section 3 of the By-Laws of the Constitution of the Faculty. Enactment of amendments may be by a mailbox ballot or by vote of the Faculty at a Faculty meeting. If a mailbox ballot is used, it must be preceded by an announced open hearing for the purpose of discussion of the proposed amendments. The Secretary's report of this hearing shall be distributed to the Faculty prior to voting.

Section 4: Amendments to Articles and Sections dealing with Standing Committees of the College may be made by the President in consultation with the College Senate Executive Committee. The above sections 1, 2, and 3 do not apply to Standing Committees of the College.